A message to discouraged Christians

As
Christian believers, our calling is far greater than that drawn
from winning elections or gaining political power - although we are
to care about such things.

So I guess it's possible that my original prediction of Mitt
carrying 315 electoral votes in a presidential landslide may not
pan out. It's still early. The lawyers haven't had
their say. But I will at least acknowledge that it's possible
he won't reach that threshold.

Actually, about 8:30 as I started to see the exit polls (which
admittedly have a sketchy record of accuracy), my jaw hit the
floor. It was at that point that I started to accept the
reality that this wasn't going to go well. And when Michigan
and Pennsylvania were called so quickly, I texted my wife this
simple, painful message: "It's over." Granted, it wasn't
yet. But it was. And even the most optimistic
conservative could tell that a great groundswell of common sense,
Christian, rational American citizens was not going to
materialize.

So how do I feel? And how do I think Christians should
feel today? I state this unequivocally: I am
disappointed. Disappointed in my country. But I am not
discouraged. If my sense of purpose and my sense of meaning
were drawn from winning elections or gaining political power I
would be. But it's not - never has been, never will be.
In the heat of an election that means so much, that truth can be
lost on many people. It's not that I don't care about the
outcome of elections - I obviously do. It's not that I don't
see them as important or critical to the survival of our
civilization and way of life - I obviously do.

But as a Christian believer, my calling is something far
greater. God has commanded me to be His ambassador in this
crooked and depraved generation. He's called me to stand for
truth even when it feels like I'm standing alone. He's called
me to be a light in a dark world, even when it seems the darkness
overshadows and envelops me. He's called me to be righteous
and faithful, and let Him handle everything else.

Ask John the Baptist about standing for righteousness in a
corrupt political environment. He was forced to preach in the
wilderness, eat locust and be considered a radical nut by everyone
in the "mainstream." Did he win any great victories or
influence the pop culture the way he undoubtedly wanted it
to? Did he bring down the corrupt empire and leaders he spoke
out against? No. He got his head chopped off. But
John realized he wasn't called to win. He was called to be
faithful. And as a result of his faithfulness, the Son of God
said that of all those born of women there was no one greater than
John the Baptist.

That's the kind of praise I seek. That's the kind of
praise I want. If I influence people along the way - if me
and like-minded believers influence enough of the culture to bring
about social change - great. But our purpose is not to build
up treasure on earth, but in heaven. Our calling is not to
please or impress men, but God. Our responsibility is not to
compromise or sacrifice truth for the sake of political expediency,
but to stand for it and boldly proclaim it no matter the cost.

That is why I am disappointed, but not discouraged.

Last night, the guy I wanted to win the presidential election
lost. But last night did not change the fact that murdering
children is abhorrent and wrong. It did not change the fact
that homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle that is spiritually and
physically destructive to individuals and a depraved behavior not
to be condoned. It did not change the fact that sexual
immorality and decadence is something that should be
resisted. It did not change the fact that the Biblical model
of family is best for children and society.

Truth remains. And if anything, after last night I am
refocused and reenergized in my urgency to proclaim it.

Peter Heck (peter@peterheck.com) is a public high school
government teacher and radio talk show host in central
Indiana.

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